DVLA To Probe Licence Racketeering

A commitree is being set up to investigate revelations in the video Soul Takers, which reveals racketeering within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). According to the Greater Accra Regional Manager of DVLA, Mr Noah Tetteh Martey, the committee will be mandated to fish out all the officials of DVLA found on the video indulging in illegal acts. Although he did not give details, he said the activities of DVLA officials captured on the video would not go unpunished. Background Undercover investigations by Anas Aremeyaw Anas established a licence racketeering network of officials at the DVLA and some people who issue licences to unqualified individuals for their personal monetary gains. The 12-month investigation witnessed operations of the system at the DVLA, with the team procuring licences for many unqualified persons, including mentally and physically challenged persons, market women and expatriates, without going through the usual rigorous process of acquiring a licence. From the DVLA�s offices at the 37 Military Hospital area, Weija, Tema, Ho and Tamale, among a host of other offices, the culprits facilitated the process of acquiring a licence, including asking an applicant sitting for a written examination not to tick any answer. Interestingly, that applicant came up tops in the examination. Response of Transport Minister In an interview with an Accra-based radio station, Citi Fm, the Minister of Transport, Ms Dzifa Attivor, said the officers of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) who were found indulging in illegal acts would be dealt with. According to the minister, �the police have put in place measures to arrest those people� Wherever they go, their faces are on the video and we will chase and arrest them.� In the opinion of the Transport minister, corrupt officials will continue to impede efforts to transform the organisation if they are not arrested. DVLA Management Mr Martey said the management of DVLA was aware of the negative impact the activities of some corrupt officials were posing to the institution. �Officials of DVLA were invited to watch the video so they are fully aware of what is happening now. I know management is putting up a committee to fully investigate the Anas�s video,� he said. Asked about the measures the DVLA would put in place to address corruption in the institution, Mr Martey said the committee would outline the steps to be taken to deal with the people captured on the video. He, therefore, called on the public not to lose confidence in the DVLA since its management would address issues soiling the image of the institution. Watch the soul takers premiere here